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CIA helping Syrian rebels?

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  • Description

    Report: Intelligence agency helping Turkey supply rebels with weapons to fight Assad regime

  • Duration 2:15
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The CIA may be helping Syrian rebels fight their oppressive government sources tell fox that Turkey reached out to the American intelligence agencies.

Asking for assistance in gathering intelligence come on let's opposition groups to supplied with weapons our chief -- -- us Catherine Herridge is live in Washington with more details on this hi Catherine so what are we learning this morning.

Well thank you patty and a source familiar with the situation on the ground tells fox.

The Turkish authorities reached out to the CIA persistence -- wants to expand its existing intelligence network inside Syria.

And this move has gained momentum as conditions have deteriorated.

-- -- Turkey's strategic importance is clear from the map in the border it shares with Syria.

We're told this -- -- assistance from CIA has included money and technology specifically technology.

It allows for greater visibility and coordination on the ground including communications and surveillance equipment.

It's possible this equipment could be used to help John -- atrocities for future prosecutions.

This is the most recent video from Syria from northern electric province and -- purports to show a street protest suddenly broken up by gunfire.

Fox News was told that the primary goal was to help Turkey expand its intelligence capabilities.

Which the US with theoretically benefit from and a secondary goal is to prevent weapons from falling into the hands.

Of HEY al-Qaeda in Iraq and other groups which are mingled among the opposition this morning the CIA.

Had no comment on the reporting -- so -- is -- regarded as a shift in the Obama administration policy.

Well the public position of the White House has been consistent by the administration wants to pressure Russia to use its leverage to -- the fighting in Syria.

Most recently Syria was accused of supplying refurbished attack helicopters to the Asad regime.

Similarly we'd like to see.

Arms sales to -- set regime come to an end because again we believe -- demonstrated.

That they will only use their military.

Against their -- civilian population.

One analyst told fox this morning that there is inherent risk for the United States.

Building up a relationship with Turkey could alienate a longstanding ally in the region the -- -- operate from their base in northern Iraq and they control many.

-- the traditional smuggling routes and that brings with it its own intelligence gathering capabilities -- and our Katherine -- live in Washington thank you.

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